Cabrera bows out, opening door for McCutchen

Serving a 50-game suspension after testing positive for an excess amount of testosterone, San Francisco left fielder Melky Cabrera, who was leading the league with a .346 batting average, was removed from the batting championship race at his request.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached a deal on a one-season-only change in the rule governing the individual batting, slugging and on-base percentage champions

Cabrera had 501 plate appearances, one short of the required minimum, but would have won the title under section 10.22(a) of the Official Baseball Rules if an extra hitless at-bat were added to his average and he still finished ahead. With Friday's agreement, that provision won't apply this year to a player who "served a drug suspension for violating the Joint Drug Program."

McCutchen, the Pirates' center fielder, is hitting .338 after going 1-for-4 on Friday night in a 7-1 loss at Houston. He holds a three-point lead over San Francisco catcher Buster Posey (.335) while St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina is third at .321.

"It was man of him to do that," McCutchen said of Cabrera's action. "I guess he thought that was the right thing to do and I commend him for doing that."

McCutchen had stayed quiet about the possibility of losing the batting title to a suspended player. He had said for weeks that he was more concerned about trying to help the Pirates get to the postseason for the first time since 1992.

However, the Pirates' postseason hopes are just about dead now as they are 5 1/2 games off St. Louis' pace for the second NL wild card with 12 games remaining.

Pirates manger Clint Hurdle also finally spoke publicly about the batting title situation for the first time Friday after previously saying he preferred to keep his thoughts to himself.

"It would have been hard to understand," he said of a Cabrera batting title. "That being said, there are a lot of things that happen in life that are hard to understand. So we don't have to worry about that anymore. I'm glad Melky did what he did. It was a voice of reason."

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MLB Team Report - Pittsburgh Pirates - NOTES, QUOTES

--2B Neil Walker was a late scratch Friday night before the Pirates lost 7-1 at Houston because of stiffness in his lower back. Walker's back tightened up during batting practice, the ikely result of a four-hour, seven-minute game on Thursday against Milwaukee that was followed by a three-hour flight from Pittsburgh to Houston. Walker has been bothered by lower back problems since late August.

--RHP James McDonald made his first relief appearance Friday night since being demoted to the bullpen form the starting rotation and it was ugly as he was charged with three runs without recording an out. McDonald allowed all three batters he faced to reach base as he gave up two hits, including a solo home run to Houston OF Justin Maxwell, and a walk. McDonald was taken out of the rotation following his Sept. 14 start against the Cubs at Chicago as he was 3-5 with a 7.08 ERA in 12 starts in the second half after going 9-3 with a 2.37 ERA in 17 starts before the All-Star break.

--SS Clint Barmes was moved up to the No. 2 spot in the batting order Friday, just the second time he had batted higher than seventh since April 30, but went 0-for-4. Barmes had been 8-for-18 in his previous six games.

--1B Garrett Jones hit his 23rd home run on Friday night to extend his career high but first in 15 games when he connected off Houston RHP Rhiner Curz in the eighth inning for the Pirates' lone run. Jones is hitting just .172 (10-for-58) in his last 15 games.

--RHP Kevin Correia (11-9, 4.09) will start Saturday night against Houston LHP Dallas Keuchel (2-7, 4.97). Correia is 10-4 with a 3.75 ERA in his last 17 starts after going 1-5 with a 4.81 ERA in his first eight starts. He is 7-2 with 3.89 ERA in 15 games, including 11 starts, inside the National League Central.

BY THE NUMBERS: 8. Starts LHP Jeff Locke has made in the major leagues without recording his first win as he lost Friday night when he allowed three runs in five innings. Since 1960, Tommie Sisk is the only Pirates pitcher to have a longer winless streak to begin a career with 11 from 1962-65. John Hope (1993-96) and Elmer Dessens (1996-98) also had eight-game streaks.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "When you don't get the results you want, it doesn't look good." --- Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, whose team has lost 29 of its last 40 games.

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MLB Team Report - Pittsburgh Pirates - ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--2B Neil Walker (lower back stiffness) was a late scratch Sept. 21. His back tightened up during batting practice, the likely result of a four-hour, seven-minute game Sept. 20 followed by a three-hour flight. He has been bothered by lower back problems since late August.

--RHP Charlie Morton (right elbow inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 30. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery June 14. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list June 24.

--INF Gustavo Nunez (right ankle surgery) went on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 20. He is out for the season.